Dusting machine



MarchZQ, 1938. w c PERRON 2,112,603

DUSTING MACHINE Filed Dec. 21, 1936 3 Sheets-Shec l INVENTOH' WALTER C. PEHHON BY 6L4 M ATTQRNEYS March 29, 1938. w. c. PERRON 2,112,603

DUSTING MACHINE Filed Dec. 21, 1936 S Sheets-Sheet Z INVENTOR WALTE%C. PERR N BY M M ATTO NEYG Patented Mar. 29, 1938 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE DUSTING MACHINE Application December 21, 1936, Serial No. 116,894

13 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in devices for disseminating dust by blowing, and has among its objects to generally improve the device and to provide specific instructions whereby the operation is improved and the center of gravity of the device is arranged closer to the body of the user. Features include all details of construction shown along with the broader ideas of means inherent in the disclosure.

A feature of the invention is also to provide a device in which the center of gravity of the blower and supply hopper, and particularly of the hopper, is as near to the body of the user as is possible and at the same time to obtain the 5 maximum blower and supply capacities, such op timum conditions being possible as a result of the closer spacing of the parts in a forwardrearwardly direction relatively to the thrust plate, and by having the upper part of the hopper overhang the fan casing, and with the rear of the hopper adapted to lie near to or engage the chest of the user.

Another feature is the arrangement of the crank shaft close to the body and near the thrust plate, and with the crank handle so placed as to operate in a plane which lies laterally of and close to the body of the user, in a position which allows a more natural and easier manipulation, thus making it easier to prevent lateral swinging of the device when in use, which swinging occurs readily when the crank shaft is more forwardly placed.

Another feature of the invention relates to the provision of a handle brace by which the 35 device is steadied, and the use of straps attached to the brace (and therefore at a forward part of the structure) to pass over the shoulders to be finally connected with the ends of the thrust plate in a manner to resist lateral movement of the plate and steadying the structure relatively to the body of the user.

Another object of the invention relates tothe utilization of the suction and gear casings as means for rigidly securing the fan casing and hopper together. Another feature relates to the horizontal feed laterally into a short suction conduit and laterally from the suction conduit to the middle of the fan, and aperipheral 50 discharge by the fan assisted by gravity,'and delivered into a forwardly leading horizontal spout, the bottom wall of which is tangential to the bottom. of the fan casing, whereby delivery efiiciency is much enhanced, and compactness is achieved, and the center of gravity of the structure is kept as near to the body of the user as possible.

Objects, features and advantages of the invention will appear in the description of the drawings forming a part of this disclosure, and in said drawings:

Figure 1 is a view showing a device as in use;

Figure 2 is a sectional elevation taken through the suction conduit, on line 2-2 of Figure 5;

Figure 3 is a plan section taken through the hopper on line 33 of Figure 4;

Figure 4 is a vertical longitudinal section taken approximately on line i4 of Figure 5; and

Figure 5 is a horizontal section taken on line 55 of Figure 4.

In the drawings the numeral l indicates a curved supporting and thrust plate having at its end slots 2 for the reception of straps later to be described. This plate is adapted to engage the front of the body of the user approximately at the waist line, and the plate supports a structure which lies forwardly of it. This structure includes a forwardmost fan casing 3 having a forwardly leading discharge spout 4 the bottom wall of which is substantially tangential with the bottom wall of the casing. In this casing is a fan 5 mounted on suitable cross shaft 6 which lies horizontally when the device is in use. One wall of the fan casing has suction openings 1 which may be said to circumscribe this shaft, for the purpose of directing the material to the middle of the fan, to be thereafter discharged peripherally. Placed immediately rearwardly of the fan casing is an upstanding supply hopper generally indicated at 16. The hopper has a relatively small semi-cylindrical bottom, the axis of which is parallel with and lies in the same horizontal plane as the fan shaft. The bottom merges into a larger upper part, a portion of which overhangs the fan casing. The hopper thus has a relatively large capacity and its rear is adapted to be near to or engage against the chest of the user. The hopper is however of such a height that the user can easily see over it and thus the forward View is not obstructed.

The hopper thus has a lower portion which is constricted in horizontal area as compared with the upper portion, with said lower or delivering portion being disposed immediately adjacent the rear curved periphery of the fan casing. The upper portion of the hopper overhangs the fan whereby large hopper capacity is obtained, and whereby minimum length of travel of the material in the conduit is obtained and whereby front and rear compactness is obtained with large hopper capacity and the location of the center of gravity immediately adjacent the body of the user.

The bottom portion I I of the hopper has therein a cross-shaft I2, which when the device is in use is substantially in the same horizontal plane as the cross-shaft 6 of the fan. This semicylindrical bottom merges into vertical walls, these merge into flaring walls l5 which in turn merge into an upper cylindrical wall portion IS, the axis of which is vertical. A suitable cover I! is provided which has a handle I8. The cover has means generally indicated at iii, by which it can be detachably secured to the hop-per as a result of rotation. The hopper is connected to the thrust plate I by a U-shaped structure welded to the side of the bottom portion of the hopper and having extensions 20 which engage against the inner side of horizontal flanges 2! of the thrust plate. Any suitable means may be used for making this connection. It is noted that the rear of the hopper is almost in the vertical plane of the forwardmost part of the curved thrust plate.

By the arrangement shown a very compact structure is provided in which the center of gravity is at a minimum distance from the user, and in which a relatively large fan capacity as well as a relatively large hopper capacity is obtained.

Another feature of the invention is the use of a steadying handle which also functions as a bracing means. This handle 25 is connected to and rises from the top of the fan casing 3, and has a substantially horizontal upper portion 26 which is secured or connected to the vertical cylindrical wall N3 of the hopper as shown. To this horizontal portion is connected a ring 2'! and to this ring is connected a strap or strap sections 28 which pass slantingly and divergently upwardly and over the top of the hopper (and clear of the hopper) and over the shoulders of the user, thence downwardly to cross one another and then pass between the arms and be connected in the slots 2 of the thrust plate I. These straps when connected tend to hold the plate against the body and to prevent lateral movement of the device during operation.

Another feature of the invention relates to the scheme of lateral feed from the hopper into a laterally disposed short horizontal suction conduit 40 which leads horizontally forwardly and delivers horizontally at the middle of the fan through the openings 1 or their equivalent-to be peripherally discharged at a point below its entry point, whereby gravity assists delivery into spout 4. To this end the shaft I2 is provided with axially spaced spiral means generally indicated at 30, 3|, see Figures 4 and 5, which rotate with the shaft and feed the dust outwardly through radially arranged slots 35, arranged forwardly of the shaft l2 and with which corresponding slots 36 of a valve plate 31 are registrable to control outflow, see Figure 5. The plate is rotatable on bearing 39 of the shaft l2, which bearing projects into the suction conduit.

The horizontal suction conduit 40 establishes communication between the openings 36 and the openings 1 or between the hopper and the fan. Into this conduit the feeding means delivers material from the hopper and from it the material is delivered to the middle of the fan. The conduit also acts (and this is a feature) to secure the fan casing 3 and hopper rigidly together.

Referring to Figures 2 and 5 another feature is the arrangement of a valve plate 3! and the handle 45 controlling it. It will be noted that the control handle is arranged forwardly of the thrust plate I, and rearwardly of the hopper. It is further noted that the conduit is open as at 46 to admit air at a point rearwardly of the entry point of the material from the hopper.

Referring to Figure 2 and reverting to the advantages of the arrangement of the conduit, it will be seen that the dust is delivered into a short conduit at a point forwardly of the shaft i2 and at a point quite near to the opening 1. In other words, it has only a short distance totravel. This is partly due to the narrowing of the lower part of the hopper. Moreover, the dust is delivered at the middle of the fan and is assisted by gravity to the delivery point or spout, the bottom of which is below the axis of rotation of the fan.

Another feature of the invention is the arrangement of a crank 50 connecting with the shaft 52, which shaft is at the lower part of the system and as near to the body as possible. The crank handle Si is disposed to operate substantially in a plane which lies laterally of the body of the user, the crank as being slanted, as shown in Figure 5, for this purpose.

At that side of the device opposite the suction conduit is arranged another casing indicated at 53 and in which is disposed gearing or equivalent drive means generally indicated at 54, by which operation of the shaft l2 rotates the fan shaft. The gearing is of such nature that high speed of the fan can be obtained by relatively lower speed rotation of the crank 50. The gear train includes a gear 55 on shaft I2 and a gear 56 on the fan shaft 6. The casing is made in sections secured as at 51.

Another feature is the construction of the fan which comprises two plates 60, one at each side of the shaft 6, attached to the shaft by any suitable means indicated at 6|. This is a cheap and efficient structure.

Other features of the invention relate to the lateral feeding means; to the means for stirring the material in the hopper; and to the operation of this stirring means from the same shaft which controls the lateral feeding means.

The lateral feeding means have previously been referred to by the numerals 30 and 3!, see Figure 5. Each comprises spirally arranged and spirally acting members which are suitably attached to the shaft and rotated thereby to push the material toward and through the openings. This occurs when the shaft is rotated in counterclockwise direction as viewed in Figure 4.

Referring now to Figure 3, there is arranged in the upper part of the hopper a rocking stirrer device formed from wire and including ends 10 journaled as shown in the hopper and provided with horizontal loop portions H, 72 lying at opposite sides of a. line passing through the center of the hopper and extending in opposite directions from the axis of rotation. The loops are connected by a short portion 13 which is eccentric to the rocking axes 10. With this portion '83 is connected a pitman 75 which at its lower end is connected with a ring indicated at 76 which ring is in part held in a position eccentric to shaft I2 by and on two cross pins 18.

means for holding the ring in eccentric relation,

It is clear that when the shaft I2 is rotated the eccentric, actingthrough" the pitman 15, upon the eccentrically disposed portion 13, rocks the stirrer loops 7|, "(2 to' agitate the material.

The element is arranged near the openings and has inclined faces so disposed as to wipe or feed the material toward and through the openings, somewhat in the manner of a spatula, breaking up the material at point of entry through the openings and assuring fine division before delivery into the suction conduit. This is a feature.

I claim as my invention:

1. A dust disseminating device including a forwardmost blower fan casing having a delivery spout leading tangentially from its bottom, a hopper close to and behind the casing having means for feeding material laterally therefrom and from the bottom, and a short horizontal conduit establishing communication between the hopper and the fan casing and delivering centrally of the fan, whereby the material is assisted by gravity to be discharged from the lower part of the fan casing through said spout.

2. A dust disseminating device including a forwardmost blower fan casing and fan therein having a horizontally arranged cross-shaft, a delivery spout leading forwardly from and tangentially related to the bottom of the casing, an upstanding supply hopper arranged rearwardly of and immediately adjacent the fan casing and having in its bottom a cross-shaft and means on the shaft for feeding material laterally from the hopper, said cross-shafts being substantially in the same horizontal plane when the device is in use, means for driving the shafts, and a short horizontal suction conduit establishing communication between the hopper and the fan, and into which the feeding means delivers material from the hopper, and by which the material is delivered to the middle of the fan, thence to the bottom of the fan casing and to said spout, said conduit being open at a point rearwardly of the point of entry of material from the hopper.

3. A dust disseminating device having, a supporting and thrust plate adapted to engage the front. of the body of the user approximately at the waist line, a structure supported by and arranged horizontally and extending forwardly from the plate including a forwardmost blowing fan casing and fan therein, a delivery spout, an upstanding supply hopper arranged rearwardly of and immediately adjacent the fan casing and rising thereabove and adapted to be near or against the chest of the user, and a steadying handle brace disposed forwardly of the hopper and attached to and arising from the fan casing and connected by its upper portion to the hopper, and serving as means by which the thrust plate is pressed firmly against the body of the user.

4. A. dust disseminating device including, a supporting and thrust plate adapted to engage the body of the user, a structure supported by and extending forwardly from the plate including, a forwardmost blower fan casing and fan therein having a horizontally arranged shaft, a forwardly leading delivery spout for the casing, an upstanding supply hopper arranged rearwardly of and immediately adjacent the fan casing and rising thereabove and having at its bottom a shaft and means on the shaft for feeding material laterally from the hopper, said shafts lying in a horizontal plane which cuts the thrust plate, means by which material from the hopper is delivered to the fan, and means for operating said last mentioned means and. said fan including a crank as an extension of said hopper shaft and having a handle so disposedas, to operate substantiallyv in a plane which lies laterallyof the body of the user.

5. A dust disseminating device including, a forwardmost blower fan casing, and fan therein having a cross shaft, a delivery spout leading forwardly from the casing, an upstanding supply hopper arranged rearwardly of and immediately adjacent the fan casing and rising thereabove and having at its bottoma cross-shaft and means on the shaft for feeding the material laterally from the hopper, and a pair of casings one arranged laterally at each opposite side of the fan casing and hopper and serving to rigidly connect the same, one of the casings forming a conduit by which dust is led from the hopper to the fan casing and the other having therein means by which one of the shafts drives the other. i

6. A dust disseminating device having, a supporting and thrust plate adapted to engage the front of the body of the user and a structure supported by and extending forwardly from the plate including, a forwardmost blowing fan casing and fan therein, a delivery spout leading'tangentially forwardly from the bottom of the .fan casing, an upstanding supply hopper arranged rearwardly of the fan casing and rising thereabove, a steadying handle and brace connected to and rising from the fan casing and secured to the hopper forwardly thereof, a laterally disposed suction conduit which communicates with the fan casing and hopper and secures them together, a casing at the opposite side of and se curing the fan casing and hopper together, and means in part within said casing for controlling hopper feed into the conduit, and operating the fan.

7. A dust disseminating device having, a sup-1;

porting and thrust plate adapted to engage the front of the body of the user and a structure supported by and extending forwardly from the plate, including a forwardmost blowing fan casing and fan therein, a delivery spout leading forwardly from the fan casing, an upstanding supply hopper arranged rearwardly of the fan casing and rising thereabove, said hopper having lateral openings therein, a horizontal cross-shaft in the hopper, means on the shaft for delivering dust through the lateral openings of the hopper, said fan casing having receiving openings in its lateral wall surrounding the fan shaft, a delivery and suction conduit connecting said lateral and receiving openings, and which conduit has a rear open end through which air can be sucked, said end being spaced forwardly of the thrust plate, and valve means controlling entry of dust from the hopper opening into the conduit, and having a control handle accessible at a point forwardly of the thrust plate and rearwardly of the hopper,

8. A dust disseminating device having a supporting and thrust plate adapted to engage the front of the body of the user approximately at the waist line, a structure supported by and extending forwardly from the plate including a forwardmost blowing fan casing and fan therein, a delivery spout leading forwardly from the casing, an upstanding supply hopper arranged rearwardly of and immediately adjacent the fan casing and rising thereabove and adapted to be near or against the chest of the user, when the thrust plate engages the user, means in the hopper for feeding dust laterally therefrom, a suction conduit leading from the hopper to the fan casing and fan and disposed laterally of the casing and hopper and serving to secure them together, a gear casing at the opposite side of the fan casing and hopper serving to secure them together,

gearing in said gear casing for operating the fan and feeding means, a crank for operating the gearing which is journaled in the bottom of the hopper and which has a handle so disposed as to operate substantially in a plane which lies laterally of the body of the user.

9. A dust disseminating device in which the center of gravity'is at a minimum distance forwardly of the user, comprising a supporting and thrust plate adapted to engage the front of the body of the user approximately at the waist line, a structure supported by and extending forwardly from the plate including, a forwardmost blowing fan casing and a fan therein, a delivery spout leading tangentially forwardly from the bottom of the casing, an upstanding supply hopper arranged rearwardly of and immediately adjacent the fan casing and rising thereabove and adapted to be near or to engage against the chest of the user when the thrust plate engages the user, a steadying handle-brace spaced forwardly from the hopper and attached to and arising from the fan casing and connected at its top to the forward side of the hopper near the top of the hopper, a pair of straps having their forward ends attached to the upper part of the handle and adapted to pass slantingly and divergently upwardly and over the top of the hopper and clear of the hopper and over the shoulders of the user, and thence downwardly to cross one another and then pass between the arms and the body and be and stirring the contents of the hopper, including a crank journaled in the bottom of the hopper and having a handle so disposed as to operate substantially in a plane which lies laterally o the body of the user.

10. A dust disseminating device having a supporting and thrust plate adapted to engage the front of the body of the user approximately at the waist line, a structure supported by and arranged horizontally and extending forwardly from the plate including a forwardmost blowing fan casing and fan therein,a delivery spout, an upstanding supply hopper arranged rearwardly of and immediately adjacent the fan casing and rising thereabove and adapted to be near or against the chest of the user, a steadying handlebrace spaced forwardly from the hopper and attached to and arising from the fan casing and connected at its top to the forward side of the hopper, means for feeding material to the fan and means for operating the fan and feeding means including a crank journaledin the bottom of the hopper and having a handle so dis.- posed as to operate substantially in a plane which lies laterally of the body of the user.

11. A dust disseminating device having a hopper having openings. in its lateral wall through which material is delivered, a shaft and a plurality of plates thereon having spiral blades acting when the shaft is rotated to'move the material laterally and through said openings, one of said blades being disposed to wipe and press the material against said lateral wall and through said openings.

12. A dust disseminating device having a hopper having openings in its lateral wall through which material is delivered, a shaft, and a plate thereon having spiral blades acting when the shaft is rotated to move the material laterally and through said openings, said blades being disposed to wipe and to press the material against said lateral wall and through said openings.

13. A dust disseminating device having a hopper having openings in its lateral wall through which material is delivered, a shaft,.and means thereon acting when the shaft is rotated to move the material laterally and through said openings, a stirrer arranged in the hopper to rock on a horizontal axis, and having a portion eccentric to its rocking axis, eccentrically acting means on said shaft within the hopper, andmeans connecting said eccentrically acting means with said eccentric portion of said rocking axis for rocking the stirrer when the feed shaft is rotated to feed the material laterally.

WALTER C. PERRON. 

